Louver assembly



Jan. 1, 1963 ac. HALLOCK LOUVER ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. '22, 1959 FIGZ.

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INVENTOR EDWARD C. HALLOCK HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent ice This invention relates to a louver blade or sun shade assembly and, more particularly, to a novel form of aerodynamically shaped hollow louver blade.

Aerodynamically shaped louver blades are well known, but generally their mode of construction is rather expensive, time consuming and difiicult involving extruding blade sections of rather complex form and the assembly thereof by welding, riveting and the like.

In accordance with the present invention, a louver blade is provided which comprises two opposed and complementary elongated U-shaped sections of relatively simple form, and means to hold the sections together with their open portions facing each other in such a way as to form an aerodynamically shaped blade. More particularly, the two sections are connected by means of a beam or spar member having oppositely directed slots at its edges in which the free edges of the U-shaped sections are received. The beam may be of generally I-shaped cross-section and is of approximately the same length as the U-shaped sections. The blade sections may be fared smoothly into the beam to form a blade having a smooth and substantially uninterrupted outer surface.

The new blade may be used either as a fixed or a pivoted blade by providing it with an appropriate mounting means.

Louver blades of substantially any desired shape can readily be assembled by forming U-shaped members of a desired specific shape and joining them as indicated above. In addition to the advantages of simplicity and ease of manufacture and assembly of diflfere ntly designed blades, it is readily apparent that louver blades can be made of any length desired on a production basis.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon further consideration of the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front view of a portion of a sun shade or louver assembly of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view in section taken on line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a louver or sun shade 2 utilizing the louver blades 4 of the present invention. Essentially, the shade comprises parallel mullions or jambs 6 positioned horizontally or vertically with the louver blades 4 pivotably or fixedly mounted therebetween in a spaced relationship to each other.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the adjustability of the louver blades 4 with respect to each other.

Referring to FIGURE 3, a typical louver blade 4 comprises a substantially U-shaped or V-shaped forward section 8, and a substantially U- or V-shaped after section 10, and a center spar or beam 12 positioned between the two sections and adapted to hold them in a face-to-face relationship to form a closed aerodynamically shaped unit. The forward and after sections 8 and 10 are airfoil shapes, having rounded leading and trailing edges, 14 and 16 respectively, and slightly diverging sides or legs, 18 and 20. The particular shape may be varied depending on the application desired.

3,070,855 Patented Jan. 1., I 1 963 The spar 12 is an extruded I-beam having'H-shaped extensions 22 and 24 secured to its flanges by soldering, welding, gluing or the like. The H-shaped sections can, of course, be formed integral with the I-beam as the flanges thereof. Oppositely directed grooves or slots, 26, 27, 28 and 29 in the H-shaped members receive the free edges of the forward and after sections, 8 and 10. A high strength adhesive of the epoxy resin type or the like or other means such as welding or soldering may be used to secure the sections 8 and 10 to the spar.

The components of the blade may be cut to the desired length prior to assembly or subsequent to assembly. Also, as shown, the grooves, 26 to 29, in the I-beam and the edges of the blade sections are arranged so that the blade sections can be fared into the spar smoothly to provide a substantially uninterrupted outer surface.

FIGURES 3 and 4 also illustrate the manner in which a pivot member 48 may be attached to the I-beam. In extruding the I-beam 12, ribs 50 and 51 having opposed slots 52 and 53 are formed in one side of the web 56 of the beam. Complementary pivot members 54 of the type disclosed in my US. Patent No. 2,822,587, dated February 11, 1958, are inserted in the ends of the slots 52 and 53. The ribs extend the entire length of the extruded .spar, so that regardless of the length of the blade the pivot means can readily be inserted therein.

' To complete the blades, the open ends thereof are closed by means of an insert of complemental shape which may be secured therein by means of a high strength adhesive of the epoxy-resin type, sheet metal screws or in any other suitable way.

A preferred material for the assembly is aluminum, presenting an excellent appearance and work quality, but obviously other materials including plastics may be utilized.

I claim:

1. A louver comprising elongated U-shaped blade sections having spaced free, substantially parallel edges extending lengthwise thereof, an elongated spar having a web and two substantially H-shaped flanges on opposite sides of and substantially perpendicular to said web, said flanges having oppositely-facing slots in and extending lengthwise of the edges of said flanges, said slots receiving said free edges of said sections, means securing said sections to said flanges to form a tubular, aerodynamically-shaped member, and means on the ends of said spar for supporting the louver.

2. A louver comprising two substantially U-shaped blade sections, each one of said blade sections being elongated in a direction substantially normal to the plane of said U and having two edges spaced apart from and substantially parallel to each other, said edges extending generally lengthwise of said blade sections, an elongated spar having two opposite edges extending generally lengthwise of said spar, a flange formed on each of said edges of said spar, each one of said flanges extending generally lengthwise of said spar and having two opposite edges extending generally lengthwise of said spar, said opposite edges of each one of said flanges being formed with two oppositely-facing slots extending. generally lengthwise of said spar, said slots respectively receiving said edges of said blade sections, and means securing said blade sections to said spar to form a tubular,

aerodynamically-shaped member.

3. Apparatus comprising mullion means, a plurality of louvers, and means connecting said louvers to said mullion means, each of said louvers comprising two substantially U-shaped blade sections, each one of said blade sections being elongated in a direction substantially normal to the plane of said U and having two edges spaced apart from and substantially parallel to each other, said edges extending generally lengthwise of said blade sections, an elongated spar having two opposite edges extending generally lengthwise of said spar, a flange formed on each of said edges of said spar, each one of said flanges extending generally lengthwise of saidspar and having two opposite edges extending generally lengthwise of said spar, said opposite edges of each one of said flanges being formed with two oppositely-facing slots extending generally lengthwise of said spar, said slots respectively receiving said edges of said blade sections, and

means securing said blade sections to said spar to form a tubular, aerodynarnieally-shaped member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 22,600 Worthen et al Jan. 11, 1859 999,547 Clark Aug. 1, 1911 2,142,283 Ohme Jan. 3, 1939 2,672,088 Orr Mar. 16, 1954 2,822,587 Hallo'ck Feb.l1, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 122,622 Great Britain 1919 

2. A LOUVER COMPRISING TWO SUBSTANTIALLY U-SHAPED BLADE SECTIONS, EACH ONE OF SAID BLADE SECTIONS BEING ELONGATED IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL TO THE PLANE OF SAID U AND HAVING TWO EDGES SPACED APART FROM AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER, SAID EDGES EXTENDING GENERALLY LENGTHWISE OF SAID BLADE SECTIONS, AN ELONGATED SPAR HAVING TWO OPPOSITE EDGES EXTENDING GENERALLY LENGTHWISE OF SAID SPAR, A FLANGE FORMED ON EACH OF SAID EDGES OF SAID SPAR, EACH ONE OF SAID FLANGES EXTENDING GENERALLY LENGTHWISE OF SAID SPAR AND HAVING TWO OPPOSITE EDGES EXTENDING GENERALLY LENGTHWISE OF SAID SPAR, SAID OPPOSITE EDGES OF EACH ONE OF SAID FLANGES BEING FORMED WITH TWO OPPOSITELY-FACING SLOTS EXTENDING GENERALLY LENGTHWISE OF SAID SPAR, SAID SLOTS RESPECTIVELY RECEIVING SAID EDGES OF SAID BLADE SECTIONS, AND MEANS SECURING SAID BLADE SECTIONS TO SAID SPAR TO FORM A TUBULAR, AERODYNAMICALLY-SHAPED MEMBER. 